Arizona State Legislature update: GOP holds slight edge in local Senate and House races | Election 2024

PHOENIX - The balance of power in the Arizona State Legislature is coming down to the wire with two races yet to be called in the State Senate and 13 undecided winners in the State House.

As of Saturday, Nov. 9, the Associated Press called 28 of the 30 State Senate seats with Republicans in the lead 16-12 over the Democrats.

In the House of Representatives, the AP has called 53 of the 60 available seats with the Republicans in the lead 29-24.

Full results can be found on our FOX 10 Phoenix live election results page.

What is happening in the Arizona State Senate?

The two seats that have not been called yet are in Districts 17 and 23.

District 17 came down to the wire between Democrat John McLean and Republican Vince Leach. With 98% of the vote reported, Leach led by about 3,000 votes.

McLean, tragically, was pronounced dead in a car crash in Tucson on Friday.

District 23 is leaning Democrat with Brian Fernandez leading by more than 3,500 votes with 90% of votes counted.

Effectively, Republicans hold a 17-12 lead with one open seat in District 23.

State Senate (All districts)

From the drop-down menu, select Districts 1-30 to view the races.

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What is happening in the Arizona State House of Representatives?

While 51 seats have been officially called for specific candidates, we can deduce which party will win some of the seats that are still contested.

The nine districts still undecided are in 2, 4, 9, 13, 17 and 23.

Both seats in District 2 are still open with Democrat Stephanie Simacek in the lead over two Republican opponents in incumbent Justin Wilmeth and Ari Daniel Bradshaw.

One of two seats in District 4 has been called. Incumbent Republican Matt Gress is more than 6,000 votes ahead of his closest opponent. The race for the second seat is close with Republican Pamela Carter leading Democrat Kelli Butler by 1 point with 98% of votes counted.

Democrats appear to be poised to win both seats in District 9. Incumbents Lorena Austin and Seth Blattman lead and the AP has already called Lorena Austin the winner with 98% of votes counted.

District 13 has been called for Republican Jeff Weninger. Incumbent Julie Willoughby leads three other challengers for the second available seat with 98% of the votes counted.

District 17 has one seat called for Democrat Kevin Volk with 92% of votes counted. Volk's win usurps a Republican as both incumbents, in either Rachel Jones or Cory McGarr are neck-and-neck for the second seat.

Republican Michele Pena has been declared the winner of one seat in District 23, leaving the remaining seat up for grabs between Democrats Mariana Sandoval and Matias Rosales.

State House (All districts)

From the drop-down menu, select Districts 1-30 to view the races.

Additional analysis

Republicans held a majority in both chambers of the Arizona State Legislature heading into the 2024 election with a 16-14 majority in the Senate and 31-29 majority in the House.

Arizona was one of several states where Democrats felt they could flip the balance of power in state legislatures.

However, if the results hold in the Senate, Republicans would again hold a 16-14 majority.

In the House of Representatives, Republicans will get at least one more winner in District 17, from either Jones or McGarr.

Democrats will get at least one more Representative in either Sandoval or Rosales in District 23, making the effective balance at 30-25.

If results hold, that would give the GOP a 33-27 advantage in the House for the next legislative session.